Register Now

In order to be able to post messages on the Hot Rod Forum : Hotrodders Bulletin Board forums, you must first register.
Please enter your desired user name (usually not your first and last name), your email address and other required details in the form below.

User Name:

Password

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Password:

Confirm Password:

Email Address

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Email Address:

Insurance

Please select your insurance company (Optional)

Log-in

User Name

Remember Me?

Password

Human Verification

In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.

Additional Options

Miscellaneous Options

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Automatically retrieve titles from external links

Topic Review (Newest First)

09-26-2011 10:40 PM

timothale

oxy acety safety .

Jody posted an oxy-fuel safety video this week on ( welding tips and tricks .com) . He also has links to the smith welding equipment safety video. and shows how an oxy regulator can explode if you turn the valve on fast. Good reading-watching

09-23-2011 10:33 PM

willowbilly3

I agree on the proper procedure, was taught that way BUT I never back off my regulators and have had the same set of small Victor knock offs for years. I even have 2-3 sets of new Victor regulators thinking I will change these out but they just keep working.
And also it is VERY important that the gas never be adjusted above 15 psi. Acetylene becomes very unstable in a free state at any pressures higher than that. That's why your gauge has a red zone after 15. The acetone in the tank is why it can be under more pressure (safely) in the tank.

09-23-2011 02:55 PM

frodin1

Actually it was kind of weird, I do spin the regulator valve out when I shut everything down. But this time when I went to turn it on, the gauge went up like normal for about a minute, and as I was putting my gloves on I could hear the gas flowing, looked over and saw the gauge slowly climbing up. Once it pegged the pressure relief vale popped and there she went. I shut everything back off and emailed you guys. I bought this setup used off a guy, and god only knows how long it sat in his garage. So, I guess it's time for a rebuild. I purchased this set not knowing crap about these things, so I went online and got directions. It's funny how many different versions of advice you can get off the internet, but everything you guys have said is exactly how I've been using these. I took the directions from some welding company website. Thanks

09-23-2011 02:24 PM

oldred

I agree that the right procedure is to run the adjusting screws out when turning off the tanks but with the pressure set at a reasonable range it rarely causes a problem and most folks just shut the valve off and let it go, still as DanielC said the RIGHT way is to unscrew the adjuster. What I have seen happen many times is when the tank gets low and the pressure drops someone will screw the regulator in farther in an attempt to drain the last bit of gas from the tank then the regulator can rupture internally when the tanks are switched, this can still ruin a regulator even if it is backed back out before changing tanks because it can be physically damaged from being run in too far. If the regulator is screwed in too far and a full tank is opened on it the results are usually just what you described. Not saying that is what happened to yours but it is a common cause of regulator failure. Sometimes however just like most anything else a regulator can fail for no apparent reason and if it ruptures internally it will allow full pressure to the regulated side which will cause the problem you seem to have. The bottom line is you need to either have it rebuilt or just buy a new one because parts are very hard to get, for liability reasons the manufacture will not sell OEM parts except to a certified repair facility but after-market repair kits can sometimes be found.

09-23-2011 01:42 PM

frodin1

Whale Chit! Lol. I usually turn the tanks off and bleed the lines down as to not hold pressure. I live out here in the desert and it''s horribly dry, it wouldn't surprise me if some rubber seal decided it was done! I guess I need to start making some calls. Thanks for the help!

09-23-2011 01:23 PM

Irelands child

If it is a two stage system, most welding supply stores can do a rebuild. My Harris O2 system stopped regulating and I had it repaired. Wasn't a cheap repair - it was about 50% of the price of a new one. They had a loaner that I could use while mine was in the shop for that 2-3 weeks.

Dave W

09-23-2011 01:18 PM

DanielC

If is very easy to damage the oxygen regulator if you quickly open the oxygen tank valve with the regulator "open". You should always back off the regulator screws, when you are done using the torch.

When you turn on the system, check to make sure the regulator pressure adjusting screws are loose, and out all the way. Open the torch valve, a little.
With the oxygen bottle, barely crack open the valve, and let the pressure build slowly, until it stabilizes, about three to five seconds to build full pressure, and then open the oxygen valve fully, and seat it open. Then screw in the oxygen regulator screw until the desired torch pressure is reached. About 5 to 7 PSI, welding, 15 to 20 for cutting. Adjust pressure with the torch valve open.
For the Acetylene, turn it on the same way as the acetylene. But it is not as critical on the initial opening of the tank valve, because acetylene pressure is about 1/10 pf the oxygen pressure. There is also some controversy on how far to open the acetylene bottle valve. some say about 3/4 of a turn, so it can be closed quickly, others say to seat it open, like the oxygen tank. Contact your welding tank supplier, and ask what they recommend.

I was taught to turn off the system this way. Turn off both the oxygen and the acetylene bottles with the valve on the bottle, then open the torch valves, and bleed the regulators down to zero. Then back off the regulator adjusting screws until they are loose. Then close the torch valves.

09-23-2011 12:55 PM

frodin1

Oxy/ Acetelene Question

I'm not too experienced on these systems, but I bought this bottle setup about a year and a half ago. I rolled it out today to do a little cutting and when I turned the Oxy bottle on the gauge pegged and the pressure relief valve popped open and vented the pressure. This is a victor setup. I was just wondering what would cause this? Is the regulator setup toast now? What happened? This thing was working fine the last time I used it and now it's acting up. If someone could point me in the right direction , I'd appreciate it. Thanks!